It is a state of subtle energetic imbalance which may reflect deep-seated experiences of anguish, grief, distress, misfortune, suffering, or trial.

If relief is delayed too long, the energetics associated with these states of being may eventually materialize in the tissues of the body, towards a diagnostically identifiable state of physical disease. Hans Selye described this process as “the general syndrome of sickness” and identified energetic signs which usually preceded the appearance of an illness or disease related to loss of adaptation (one’s physiological capacity for stress regulation).

In Oriental medicine’s Hara diagnosis, abdominal palpation is used effectively to pick up on subtle energetic imbalances in body systems which have not yet shown up as symptoms of disease, such as a mass or tumor.

The hara is the body’s energetic and physical center, the core of a person’s vitality. All the primary meridians root in the hara so any tendernesson palpation, tightness, indentation, temperature variation, change in skin color or texture or swelling, indicates an imbalance in a particular organ and meridian system which responds rather quickly to treatment at this stage.

This diagnostic tool is highly valued as it can identify subtle changes even if a person’s tongue, pulse or lack of symptoms seem to fall in the “normal” range.

But there is something more to palpation that is equally as intriguing—the energetic exchange that occurs between practitioner and patient when acupoints are palpated. Research has demonstrated that acupoints along the meridians exhibit distinctive electrical qualities. Palpation of an acupoint prior to inserting a needle affects the qi of the point, helping the practitioner achieve the best results via depth of insertion, angle, direction, and location.

As a practitioner of holistic medicine, I really enjoy talking about non-invasive methods that support health and resolve illness. One of the tools that I use is LEDcolor-light therapy. LED is the acronym for light-emitting diodes which act as semiconductors, releasing electrons in the form of photons or little packets of light. I use LED color-light therapy (light projects through colored gels) with patients on a near-daily basis to ease pain, restore internal balance, and support vitality.

Were you aware that the use of light or phototherapy in medicine is well established? According to the Mayo Clinic, specific wavelengths of light evoke specific responses in the body. Some of the common medical uses of light therapy include treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), sleep/circadian rhythm issues, and even depression. For example, full-spectrum light is thought to effectively address SAD because it appears that its wavelengths alter brain chemicals linked to mood. Ultraviolet light has been effectively used to treat skin disorders such as eczema, acne vulgaris, or psoriasis while a specific frequency of blue light successfully treats neonatal jaundice. Light has even been found to accelerate the healing of wounds.

Even if we don’t completely understand the science behind light therapy, we all know how good it feels to step out into the sunshine and be warmed by its radiant heat. Ponder for a moment how sunlight travels through space at the speed of light to influence all life processes on this earth. It is no wonder that the properties of light have intrigued scientists throughout the ages as highlighted in this quote from the Photon Science Institute at the University of Manchester:

Photon science encompasses all aspects of creating, measuring and using light for science. Photon science allows us to discover new things about the properties of all kinds of physical and biological matter, enabling us to answer questions of what things are and how and why they work.

I suggest that understanding some of the basics of how and why the body responds to the therapeutic application of light is empowering since it offers us one more non-invasive tool to support our health or to treat illness. The series will explore newer theories of biophysics such as the bio-electrical nature of body and the crystalline-like properties of body tissues which are thought to sustain a body-wide state of energy continuum. I find this new line of research to be exciting and thought-provoking and I hope you will ‘catch the wave’ of excitement with me!

Electromagnetic Spectrum of Light

Question to ponder: Do you think that understanding the marvels of the human body motivates people to take better care of themselves and their health?